Variable spacing mechanism for typewriters



2 Sheets-Shet 1 J. L. WEBB June 2, 1942.

VARIABLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Do'. 28, 1940 June 2, IJ. L. WEBB v I VARIABLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS' Filec lDeci28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "I'll-ll- J I Z7 59 62595 i amqs Lit 655'Patented June 2, 1942 PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE srAcmG MECHANISM FORTYPEWRITERS James L. Webb, Gainesville; Tex. I Application December 281940, Serial No. 372,128

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of typewriters andpertains particularly to improvements in spacingmechanism, the presentdevice being directed primarily to a novel means of automaticallyproducing variable spacing. v

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism by means of which a typewriting machine when operated, willmove the paper carriage or platen varying distances, as the keys andtype bars are operated, according to the sizes of the letters orcharacters printed instead of moving the platen always a fixed distanceas is done in typewriters which are at present in use.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide aspacing mechanism for typewriters whereby provision is made for movingthe paper carriage or platen three different distances according to thecharacter or letter printed as, for example, a short spacing or movementof the carriage is effected in connection with the printing of periods,commas, lower case ii and other small characters; a second and widerspacing is effected upon the printing of lower case a, b, c and othermedium-sized characters and the numerals 1, 2, 3, etc.; and a stillgreater spacing or movement of the carriage is effected upon printingcapital letters and other large characters.

Still another object is to provide in. a typewriter a novel mechanismwhereby the spacing or movement of the carriage through the differentdistances stated is effected automatically with the operation of any oneof the keys and type bars of the machine,

A still further object is to provide a variable spacing mechanism forthe purpose described wherein such variable spacing is effected by thenovel formation of heels adjacent the pivoted ends of thetype bars. v 4

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanyassociation with fragments of a typewriting machine frame andtype keys. U

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the escapement mechanism showingthe parts in position for the movement of the platen carriage throughthe shortest space or extent of its movement.

Fig. 3'is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-301? Fig.1, and showing the relative positions of the dogs and the ratchet wheel.

Fig. t is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the dogs in their"at rest position after the pawl has turned for the movement of thecarriage, a portion of the structure being in section.

Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates the heels of a group of type bars showing variationsin the contoursof the heels.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a portion of atypewriter frame is shown in Fig. 1 in broken or dotted lines and isindicated' by the numeral I. The numeral 2 designates the usual type bar-bearing or segment which is disposed transversely of the typewritingmachine frame and which carries the pivot rod 3 upon which the type keysare mounted. This bar bearing has the usual vertical slots or radialslots 4 in which the heels of the type bars enter ing drawingsforming'part of this specification,

with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to beconfined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings butmay be changed or modified solong as such changes or modifications markno material departure 5 from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the mechawhen the bars are swungupwardly on the pivot 3 for bringing the type face against the platencylinder 5.

For the purpose of the present invention, the bearing 2 is provided atits rear face with the relatively wide channel 6 into which the slots 4open and in which is disposed the universal bar key bars carry the pulllinks l3 which are pivotally attachedthereto and each, of which extendsupwardly and carries a pivot pin 9, as shown, and it will thus be seenthat upon depression of any one of the key bars, the type bar coupledtherewith by the link l3 will be rocked into typing position withrespect to the platen roll 5.

nism embodying the present invention shown in It is, of course,understood that the showing for the mounting of the key bars and theconnections between the key bars and the type bars is merelyconventional and that any other suitable operative connections may beemployed or any other suitable mounting for the key bars may be made useof without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and thisapplies also to the mounting for the hereinafter described shift key andfor the connections between this shift key and the platen lifting shiftrail.

The shift rail for the platen roll is indicated by the numeral l4 andupon this rail the platen moves across the machine in the usual manner.The numeral I5 designates ashift key bar which is suitably pivotallysupported, as at [5, upon the" frame and which has at its outer end thekey II. The inner. end of the shift key bar is connected by a link I8with a short pivoted rock bar l9, which is pivotally mountedintermediate its ends by the trunnion 20 engaging a suitable portion ofthe frame, the link l8 being pivotally at- The other tached to one endof this rock bar. end of the rock bar 20 is attached to a shift bar 2|which extends transversely of the machine and may be attached at itsopposite end, if desired,- to an opposite rock bar, not shown,corresponding to the bar l9.

The platen shift rail I4 is supported upon the upper end of one or morevertical supporting arms 22, the lower end of the am being pivotallyattached, as at 23, to the rear end of the rock bar I9. Thus it will beseen that upon depression of the shift key I1, the supporting arm 22will be raised so as to raise the shift rail and the platen roll and therock bar 2| will be lowered.

Rearwardly of the universal bar there are provided the two upright arms24 which are in spaced parallel relation and each of which is pivotallyattached at its lower end with a suitable part of the machine frame, asfor example, by means of the laterally turned lower end trunnions 25.The upper ends of the arms 24 are connected by a horizontal rail 26 towhich is rigidly secured the upstanding post 21.

Pivotally attached to the post supporting rail 25 at opposite sides ofthe post 21, are -the forwardly extending universal bar arms 28, each ofwhich is coupled to the under side of the universal bar 1 by means ofthe ears 29, as shown in Fig. 5. These arms support the universal barwithin the channel 6 and with an edge of the bar directed toward theslots 4 of'the breast block, as previously described. The forward endsof the universal bar arms are supported from the rock bar 2| by thevertical supporting links 30. These links are pivotally attached attheir ends to the arms and the rock bar, as will be readily understood,so that when the rock bar is raised and lowered, the'universal bar maybe shifted vertically in the channel 6 without forward or rearwardswinging movement.

The numeral 3| designates the shaft of the typewriting mechanism whichsupports the usual gear 32, which is coupled with the rack, not shown,which forms a part of the platen supporting carriage, not shown. Withthis shaft 3| there is connected the escapement mechanism ratchet wheel33 which turns in a clockwise direction, when viewing the machine fromthe rear, under the urge of the carriage moving spring, not shown. Theteeth of the ratchet wheel are indicated by the numeral 34 and as ismost clearly shown in Fig. 2, each tooth has a radial straight edge 35which faces in the direction of movement of the wheel, the opposite edgeof the tooth being curved or rounded, as indicated at 36. This wheelforms a part of the escapement mechanism, as will be readily understood,and it will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, that the post 21 extendsvertically across the rear face of the wheel to one side of the pivotalcenter thereof.

Upon the upper end of the post 21- is a right angularly extendingrelatively long head 31 which is directed across the periphery of theratchet wheel and upon one side edge of this head there is formed a stoplug 38, the function of which will be hereinafter described. This stoplug, it will be noted, is upon the side of the head nearest the pivotalcenter of the ratchet wheel.

Extending from the inner end of the head 31 are the two pins 39 and 49.The pin 39 has a head 4| upon its outer end. The pins 39 and 40 passthrough and have slidably mounted thereon the dog 42 which extends fromthe side of the head nearest the pivotal center of the ratchet wheel orin the same general direction as the stop 38 and has at its free end theratchet wheel engaging tooth 43. This tooth 43 extends only partwayacross the width of the dog and upon the side of the dog remote from thestop 38 there is formed the finger 44 which extends beyond the edge ofthe tooth 43 and engages a. side of the ratchet wheel at certain periodsin the operation of the ratchet mechanism.

As previously stated, the dog 42 is mounted upon the two pins 39 andHand it has a slid ing movement upon these pins but is normally urgedtoward the head 31 by the expansion spring 45 which encircles the pin 39and is interposed between the head 4| and the dog 42.

At the rear end of the dog 42 a stop finger 46 is carried and attachedto a suitable fixed part of the machine adjacent the rear of the head 31is a bracket 41 which carries a depending pivot stud 48 on which isrotatably mounted a bumper roller 49. This roller is engaged by the rearof the dog and head, as shown in Fig. 4, and serves as a bracing meansfor the head and the head supporting post. When the escapement mechanismis in one position of its operation, the pin 46 carried by the dog 42will be engaged against the side of this stop roller 49, but normallywhen the escapement mechanism is inoperative, the roller will engage thedog and the head at the point of joinder between these parts, as shownin Fig. 4.

Secured to and extending from one side of the head post 21 is a bracketfinger 50 which carries a pivot pin 5|, which is approximately on theaxial center of the shaft 3|, and this pivot pin supports a rocking orspacing pawl arm 52 upon the upper end of which is the laterallyextending spacing pawl 53 which is directed toward the teeth of theadjacent ratchet wheel. 'I'he free end of the spacing pawl 53 is cutobliquely as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the pawl is provided with arelatively sharp point 54. Adjacent this point the pawl carrie thedepending spacing lug 55, the purpose of which will be hereinafterdescribed.

Extending from the lower'end of the pawl arm 52 is a finger 56 which isconnected by a contractile spring 51 with the adjacent post 31. Thisspring normally urges the oscillation of the pawl arm 52 and the pawl 53away from the post and in a direction counter to the direction ofmovement of the ratchet Wheel 33.

Supported in a suitable manner at the rear of the ratchet wheel 33 as,for example, upon a is disposed within the area defined by the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel and spaced from the rear face of the ratchet wheel, asis clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Upon theupper side of this arm 59 aremounted the three stops 60, (ii and 62, these stops being arranged, inthe order numbercd in spaced relation with one another and forming thefree end of the arm and being in the order numbered of increasing widthacross the arm. The sides of these stops nearest the ratchet wheel 33are all in the same plane and flush with the edge of the arm, and thusit will be seen particularly upon reference to ,Figs. 1 and 4, that theopposite edges of the stops, being those edges remote from the ratchetwheel 33, are in stepped relation.

In the normal position of the mechanism the arms 24 may be considered asbeing substantially vertical, the normal center line for each, of thesearms being indicated by the broken lines 53 in Fig. 1. When the arms arein normal position, all of the type bars will, of course, be lowered,and control springs 64 connected with the arms 24 will maintain the armsin this. normal position with the universal bar forward in the channel6. Under these conditions, the movement limiting or movement controllingpawl 53 will have its point engaged acros the straight edge of a toothof the ratchet wheel. Also the point or tooth 43 of the dog 42 will beout of engagement with the ratchet wheel, but will be in alinement withthe tooth engaging 'edge of the pawl 53. Since there will be a tendencyfor the ratchet wheel 33 to turn under the urge of the carriage controlspring of the typewriter mechanism, the movement controlling pawl'53will be held by the ratchet wheel against the stop 38 of the head 31 andthe spring 51 will be stretched and under tension.

Fig. 6 illustrates the heel portions ofa number of type bars B and atthe lower end of each type bar there is formed a heel which functions asa universal bar actuating cam, and these heels of a the various typebars are of varying heights and contours according to the character ofthe type faces which form a part of the bar. For example, in Fig. 6, oneof the type bars B has a heel portion 13 in the form of a relativelyflat are, this being the lowest type of heel and being used inconjunction with the type bar carrying periods, commas, lower case i andother small letters and characters. Another heel is indiacted at 13 inwhich theme is somewhat sharper than that of the heel B such a heelbeing employed, for example, upon type bars having certain numerals andcharacters such, for example, as the figure 4 and the dollar sign, asshown. The heel B is still more sharply formed in its contour and bulgesnearer to the lower end of the key than do the heels B and B This heelThe character B designates a heel which would be a part of .the type barcarrying the lower case 1 and the capital I. The operation of this heelwould also be the same as that described in connection with the heel BIn the operation of the mechanism, when a type bar is actuated in thecustomary manner, as it swings upwardly toward the platen, the heel ofthe bar will move into the slots 4 and press against the universal barI, so as to force the universal bar rearwardly; This will, of course,effect the rearward oscillation of the arms 24' against the tension ofthe springs 64 and it will also move the post 21 and the head 31rearwardly together with the parts connected to the post and head.Assuming that the type bar in question is one having a relatively flatlycurved heel such, for example, as the heel 13 for the printing of aperiod, comma, semi-colon, lower case '1 or other small character, theuniversal bar will be moved rearwardly to the minimum extent-and theescapement mechanism will function in the following manner to releasethe platen carrying carriage for the making of the smallest space. Thisoperation takes place-as follows. When the post 21 is swung rearwardlyunder the action of the small space producing heel, the movementcontrolling pawl 53 will be shifted away from the tooth of the ratchetwheel with which it is engaged, but before it releases this tooth, thetooth of the dog will follow it into engagement with the ratchet wheeltooth and function to hold the ratchet wheel against turning. In thisposition the tooth of the dog 42 is illustrated in Fig. 1. As soon asthe pawl 53 releases the ratchet wheel tooth, the spring 51 willoscillate the pawl arm and it will swing around until it strikes thefirst or narrowest one of the stops carried by the arm 59, which is thestop 60. These stops are spaced apart distances equal to thedistancesbetween the straight edges of the ratchet wheel teeth and the first stopor smallest stop with which the pawl 53 comes into contact is removedthe space of one tooth from the ratchet wheel tooth which the pawl hasjust released. As a result, it will be seen that the pawl 53 will beoscillated a distance equal to the space of one tooth of the wheel whereit may be brought to a stop through the engagement of the lug'55 withthe first stop 60. When the type bar moves back away from the universalbar, the arms 24 will be again moved forwardly would be employed inconnection with the lower case a and capital A, the'upper part of theheel operatin the universal bar when the lower case a, is typed, and thelower part of the heel engaging theuniversal bar when the shift key hasbeen actuated for the printing of the capital letter. It will, ofcourse, be understood that when the shift key is actuated, the rock bar2| will be lowered so that the universal bar will be dropped or loweredin the channel, and thus it will be in the proper position to be engagedby the highest point of the heel l3 and,

by the springs 64 and the pawl and dog of the release or escapementmechanism will be shifted back to their former positions, but the pawl53 will then enter the next tooth of the ratchet wheel as'the dogreleases the toothwhichthe pawl had previously engaged. The carriagecontrolling spring of the typewriter will then cause the shaft 3| toturn so as tomove the platen over the distance of the smallest spacemovement permitted by the mechanism and as, the ratchet wheel 33 turnsunder the action of the carriage moving spring, it will swing the pawl53 over until it is brought into engagement with and stopped by thefinger 38 carried by the head 31. This movement will be equal to thewidth of one tooth of the wheel and it will be understood that the toothof the dog 42 and the ratchet wheel tooth engaging edge of the pawl 53will again be in alinement.'

' If a type bar bearing a capital letter such as A or L is actuated, theshift key will have, of course, been moved so that the universal bartherefore, the proper spacing will be obtained. 7 I will be lowered andconsequently will be in a position to receive the maximum thrust fromthe heel of the type bar. This will swing the post 21 and the head 3'!to the maximum distance as a result of which after the pawl 53 movesfrom out of engagement with the tooth of the, ratchet wheel and the dogtooth moves into engagement with such ratchet wheel tooth, the pawl willbe moved back far enough for the lug 55 to pass the first, two stops 60and 6| and be finally brought into engagement with the third stop 62. Inthis movement the ,pawl 53 will pass two ratchet wheel teeth beingbrought into engagementwith the edge of the third tooth'from the onewhich it previously engaged. The dog 42 will not move over any fartherthan it moves for the production of the minimum amount of movement ofthe carriage since the terminal portion ll of the dog engages theforward side of the ratchet wheel but relative movement is permittedbetween the dog and the head 31 by the sliding of the dog on the pins39-40 against the tension of the spring 45. After the type bar isreleased and the head moves back to its former position,'the dog willmaintain its hold on the ratchet wheel until the head comes back intoengagement with it, at which time the point of the pawl 53 will bemoving into engagement with the edge of the third tooth so that the dogmay then release the ratchet wheel, and it will be understood that theratchet wheel will then turn the distance of three teeth and carry thepawl with it back to the initial position of the pawl. against the stopfinger 38 carried by the head. This will permit the turning of the shaft3| and the gear 32 to the extent necessary to move the carriage andplaten of the machine the maximum distance.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the mechanismherein disclosed is of relatively simple construction and at the sametime will function efficiently to produce the diiferent degrees ofmovement of the machine carriage in accordance with the size of theletter or character being printed and, therefore, more balanced spacingbetween the letters will be obtained with a consequent improvement inthe appearance of the typed word or line.

While the invention as illustrated and described sets forth a means forproducing only three degrees of spacing or means for producing threedilierent widths of spacing, it will be readily apparent that the ideamay be carried forward for the production of a machine in which four orfive widths of spacing may be obtained, if desired. This would, ofcourse, be accomplished by changing the size of the teeth of the ratchetwheel 33 and by correspondingly increasing the number of stops carriedby the arm 59.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotaliy supported for swinging movement, means foreffecting variable movement of the carriage in accordance with difierentwidths of characters carried by the bars, comprising heels of difierentcontours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widthsof the characters carried by the bars, a universal bar supported to beactuated by the heels on movement of the bars in said universal bar.being actuated to diiferent degrees by the difierent contour forms ofthe heels, and an escapement mechanism forming an operative couplingbetween said shaft and said universal bar to be controlled by theuniversal bar, said mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a pawl and adog coupled with the universal bar and alternately engaging the ratchetwheel upon movement of the bar, the ratchet wheel having differentdegrees of turning movement upon release by the dog and engagement bythe pawl, and means cooperating with the pawl for efiecting regulationof the degree of turning of the ratchet wheel in direct proportion tothe degree of shift given the universal bar by a type bar heel.

2. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotaliy supported for swinging movement, means foreffecting variable movement of the carriage in accordance with differentwidths of characters carried by the bars, comprising heels of differentcontours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widthsof the characters carried by the bars, a universal bar'for engagement bysaid heels and supported to be shifted to diiferent degrees by' thedifferent contour forms of the heels, an escapement mechanism includinga toothed wheel carried by said shaft and a'pair of pawls cooperatingfor alternate engagement with the wheel teeth, means for supporting thepawls which is operatively coupled with said universal bar to be movedwith and by the same, one of said pawls being normally engaged with awheel tooth, means supporting the said one pawl for movementindependently of its movement with its support when the support is movedto disengage the pawl from the said wheel tooth, the other pawl engagingsaid tooth and holding the wheel when the said one pawl is disengagedtherefrom, means causing said independent movement of said one pawl whendisengaged from the wheel and means for limiting said independentmovement of the other pawl to one of a number of positions with respectto the wheel teeth according to the degree of shift given said universalbar, the said other pawl releasing the wheel and the said one pawlre-engaging the wheel upon release of said universal bar by the heel,the said wheel returning said one pawl to its first position after itsindependent movement and re-engagement with the wheel.

3. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaft,a type bar supporting bearing and type bars pivotaliy supported on thebearing, means for effecting variable movement of the carriage inaccordance with the different widths of characters carried by the typebars, comprising heels carried by the type bars and having difierentcontour forms, said bearing having a slot therein into which the heelsenter upon movement of the bars into typing position, the contour formsof the heels bearing a definite relation to the widths of the characterscarried thereby, an oscillatable structure spaced from the channel ofsaid bearing, said structure including a universal bar disposed in thechannel for engagement by the heels, an escapement mechanism including atoothed wheel carried by said shaft and a pair of pawls supported uponsaid oscillatable structure to be moved therewith relative to thetoothed edge of the wheel,'one of said pawls being normally engaged witha tooth of the wheel to hold the same against turning, the other pawlbeing alined with the said one pawl and moving into engagement with saidtooth upon the shifting of the pawls by the oscillatable structure, thesaid one pawl having movement independent of its movement with itssupport when the support is moved for disengagement of the one'pawl withthe tooth, means for limiting the said independent movement of the onepawl to one of a number of positions with respect to the wheel teethaccording to the degree of shift given the universal bar and theoscillatable supporting structure by atype bar heel, the said other'pawlreleasing the wheel and the said one pawl re-engaging the wheel uponrelease of the universal bar by the heel, the wheel returning the saidone pawl to its first position after its independentmovement andre-engagement with the wheel, and case shift means coupled with andoperating to raise and lower said universal bar in the channel of saidbearing for changing the points of contact of the heels with theuniversal bar and correspondingly changing the extent of movement of thecarriage according to the width of the character printed.

4. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means foreffecting variable movement,of; the carriage in accordance withthedifferent widths of the characters carried by the bars, comprising atoothed wheel carriedby said shaft, a pivoted pawl bodily movable intoand out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel and normally securingthe shaft against turning, means for oscillating the pawl on its pivotin a path corresponding with the circumferential line of the wheel whenthe pawl is bodily released from a tooth, a second pawl cooperating withthe first pawl to engage the toothed wheel and maintain it againstmovement when the first pawl is initially bodily released therefrom, thesecond pawl releasing the toothed wheel upon re-engagement of the firstpawl-with a tooth thereof after the first pawl has moved a prescribeddistance along said circumferential path, a series of stops arranged ina curved line concentric with the path of movement of the first pawl andarranged for selective engagement by the first pawl according to itsextent of movement out of engagement with the wheel, a shiftable elementoperative coupled with said pawls for imparting movement in onedirection thereto for effecting disengagement of the first pawl from thewheel and engagement of the ,second pawl therewith, and means carried bythe type bars and bearing a predetermined relation to the widths of theprinting characters carried thereby for imparting movement in the saidone direction to the shiftable element and to the pawls to free thefirst pawl from the wheel for a predetermined engagement with one ofsaid stops to control the extent of the subsequent movement of thecarriage.

5. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means foreffecting variable movement of the carriage in accordance with differentwidths of characters car- 'ried by the bars, comprising heels ofdifferent contours on the type bars and bearing definite relations tothe widths of said characters, a universal bar arranged for engagementby said heels on movement of the bars for printing, a support for saiduniversal bar having limited movement in two opposite directions, atoothedwheel secured to said rotatable shaft, a post carried by saidsupport and disposed adjacent said wheel, a pair of pawls supported bythe h post and having movement across the edge of the wheel uponmovement of said support, one of said pawls normally engaging a tooth ofthe wheel to hold the latter against turning and disengaging the wheelupon movement of the support in one direction, the other pawl movinginto engagement with a tooth of the wheel upon disengagement of the saidone pawl therefrom, the said one pawl being pivotally supported on thepost to swingwhen disengaged from the wheel, in a path following thecircumference of the wheel, the said one pawl re-engaging the wheel atanother tooth upon movement of the support in the opposite direction andsaid other pawl simultaneously releasing the wheel, and means forregulating the extent of swinging movement of the said one pawl in saidpath I which is controlled by the degree of thrust given to the saiduniversal bar by a heel.

6. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means foreifecting variable movement of the carriage in accordance with differentwidths of characters carried by the bars, comprising heels of differentcontours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widthsof said characters, a universal bar arranged for engagement by saidheels on movement of the bars for printing, a support for said universalbar having limited movement in two opposite directions, a toothed wheelsecured to said rotatable shaft, a post carried by said support anddisposed adjacent said wheel,

a pair of pawls supported by the post and having,

' the other pawl moving into engagement with a tooth of the wheel upondisengagement of the said one pawl therefrom, the said one pawl beingpivotally supported on the post to swing when disengaged from the wheel,in a path following the circumference of the wheel, the said one pawlre-engaging the wheel at another tooth upon movement of the support inthe opposite direction and said other pawl simultaneously. releasing thewheel, a lug carried by the saidone pawl, a

plurality of stops supported in a curved line sub-' stantiallycorresponding to the curvature of the periphery of the wheel, the stopsbeing spaced apart distances substantially equaling the width of theteeth, said lug being selectively engaged against the stops in theswinging of the said one pawl in accordance with the extent of movementof the support in the said one direction, and the said extent ofmovement of the support in the said one direction being controlled bythe form of the heel engaging said universal bar.

'7. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means foreffecting variable movement of the carriage in accordance with differentwidths of characters carried by the bars, comprising heels of differentcontours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widthsof said characters, a universal bar arranged for engagement by saidheels on movement of the bars for printing, a support for said universalbar having limited movement in two opposite directions, a toothed wheelsecured to said rotatable shaft, a post carried by said support anddisposed adjacent said wheel, a pair of pawls supported by the post andhaving movement across the edge of the wheel upon movement of saidsupport, one of said pawls normally engaging a tooth of the wheel tohold the latter against turning and disengaging the wheel uponmovementof the support in one direction,

the other pawl moving into engagement with a tooth of the wheel upondisengagement of the said one pawl therefrom, the said one pawl beingpivotally supported on the post to swing when disengagedirom the wheel,in a path following the circumference of the wheel, the said one pawlre-engaging the wheel at another tooth upon movement of the support inthe opposite direction and said other pawl simultaneously releasing thewheel, 9. lug carried by the said one pawl, a plurality of stopssupported in a curved line substantially corresponding to the curvatureof the periphery of the wheel, the stops being spaced apart distancessubstantially equaling the width of the teeth, said lug beingselectively ena ed against the stops in the swinging of the said onepawl in accordance with the extent of movement of the support in thesaid one direction, and the said extent of movement of the support inthe said one direction being controlled by the form of the heel engagsaid universal bar, said universal bar being shiftable vertically, acase shift mechanism and means coupling the case shift mechanism withthe universal bar for efiecting vertical movement of the universal baron actuation of the said mechanism to change the points of contactbetween the contoured heels and the universal bar to effect a desiredgreater or lesser degree of movement in the said one direction of thesupport.

8. In a typewriting machine having a carriage actuated rotatable shaftand type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means forefifecting variable movement of the .carriage in accordance withdifierent widths of the characters carried by the bars, comprising heelsof diilferent contours on the type bars and bearing definite relationsto the widths of said'characters, a universal bar, a movable support forthe universal bar maintaining the latter in position for.

engagement by the type bar heels on swinging of the bars to typingposition, the engagement of a heel with the universal bar moving thesupport backwardly in the machine, a toothed wheel secured to said shaftto be turned thereby, a post carried by the support adjacent the wheel,a head on the post, a pawl supported on the head for movement relativethereto and in a position to engage a wheel tooth when the head is movedwith the support rearwardly, a second pawl supported by the post andnormally engaging a wheel tooth to maintain the wheel against turningand released from the wheel upon the rearward movement of the support,the second pawl being pivotally supported for independent movement uponits release from the wheel in a path following circumference of thewheel, the pawls being relatively arranged whereby the first pawlimmediately engages the wheel and holds the same upon release of thewheel by the second pawl, a plurality of stops supported adjacent thewheel and arranged in an arcuate path paralleling the path of swingingmovement by the second pawl, said stops being separated distances equalto the distances between the teeth of the wheel, a lug carried by thesecond pawl for selective engagement with the stops, said stops beingfurther so arranged that the one selected for engagement by the lug isdetermined by the extent of rearward movement given the support and thesecond pawl by the type bar heel engaging the universal bar, and saidsecond pawl engaging an-

